Chapter 7
"So this goes here?" William points to where he thinks the circuit board’s place is.
"Yes. I am starting to think you don't need my help at all" She reaches for her phone vibrating on the coffee table along with all the pieces. A text from Oliver saying he will be late and if it would be problem if William stayed with her a little longer, she texts back ‘ is no problem ’ she also types have fun on your date, but erases, she has no idea why he is late, never mind she saw tmz talking about a video of Laurel and Oliver having lunch yesterday and though Thea told her at lunch today there is nothing going on between them, is really not of her business she tells herself.
"Of course I need you! Without you, I would have no idea how to build my own supercomputer"
Felicity smiles, William remembers her so much of herself in that age.
"You started building computers when you were my age too?"
"Oh, I built my first when I was seven" seeing William's face fall, she adds quickly "You got a late start than me but you catch things faster than anyone I ever meet"
William reaches over for another piece, looking at her questioning if that is the next one.
Felicity nods "See, you are a natural"
"You build your first by yourself?" He asks without taking his eyes off the pieces in front of him.
"No, my dad helped me"
"Does he work at Smoak Tech too?" Makes sense that he thinks that. His father works with his parents on a company that carries the family name.
Felicity sighs "No" a hint of sadness on her voice makes William looks up
"Oh" sadness filling his eyes "Did he die?" he whispers.
She gives him a sad smile "No...he left me and my mom when I was a kid. It's just me and her now"
"I am sorry…You know dad says that family comes in all shapes and sizes, that the only thing that is necessary to be a family is love and that every family is special and unique in different ways.'' He tries to comfort her.
Her heart fills with pride, Will is so young but has a big heart, he will grow up to be a kind and caring man.
"Is it lonely?" He asks "Just you and your mom?"
"Sometimes...And I miss her a lot, she lives in Vegas. But you know families grown, you go adding people along the way...mine did, I have my friends from central city, Sara, the Diggles,Tommy, Thea, your grandparents"
"And now me and dad?"
It may not be in the way that she wishes "Yeah, now you and your dad too"
William smiles brightly "I am happy that my family has grown since we move to Starling too"
Felicity shares that happiness, it may not be exactly how she wanted and she will do her best to get over her crush on Oliver, but her life only felt fuller since the Queen boys started to make a part of it.
"Now change places with me, I will solder the electronic components"
William moves from his spot but watches closer her movement, sucking in everything he wants to learn.
The noise of William's fork pushing food around is the only signal of people in the Queen Mansion.
Oliver watches as his son looks sadly at the plate, Raisa is gone for the day, Thea on a date with Roy, his parents out in some charity thing. It is just the two of them having dinner on the kitchen island.
"Is everything ok buddy?"
"Yeah...It's just so quiet tonight" William says sorrowfully.
Oliver agrees with him, they got used to sitting on the dinner table with their family and sometimes Tommy, Roy or Felicity would join them. It was the only time of the day they could all gather together and catch up.
"Dad?" William looks down at his plate avoiding his father's eyes "Did you and Felicity have a fight?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"I see her all the time, but I always go there, she has not come over recently and you don't go over there either. When I asked her, she just looked sad, did you do something? Just tell her you’re sorry, she is the best she will forgive you, if you really meant it"
He sighs, he misses her, but after that night with Laurel things got awkward he planned on clearing up her misunderstanding about him and his ex girlfriend. But he keeps thinking that if she is so fine with the thought of him with another person maybe she does not feel anything more than friendship for him. He is afraid of risking making a fool of himself, of making her uncomfortable.
"Will, I am just busy with work.You don't need to worry about me and Felicity, we are fine" the words leaving an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"I don't believe you"
"Why not?"
"You look sad too"
William may be too smart for his own good, how can he explain to his son when he can barely explain to himself what he is feeling "You know, your mom called today, she got time off so she will be here for your math competition"
William’s face lights up "Really?!"
"Yeah, I was thinking she will be here for a couple of days, maybe you can come up with a list of your favorite places in Starling so far, so we can show her"
Oliver listens as William starts to list places and reasons, despising the joy as seeing his son happy there is a tightness around his chest.